Page 66 - The Gazette Autumn 2023

66 The Gazette QARANC Association
OBITUARY
Vera Hay Legion
d’honneur
Chevalier/SRN
Vera Hay aged 101 of Hawcoat, Barrow in Furness, died on Sunday 18 June 2023 in Furness General Hospital. She was the widow of the late Arthur; much loved Mum of Viv, Beth and the late Chris; adored Grandma to Fiona, Graham, Ben and Kiya; and doting Great Grandma to Louie.
Cremation has taken place and no service by request.
Born the daughter of a First World War veteran on 14 May 1922, Vera spent her early days in Blythe, Northumberland, before moving to St Mary Abbots Hospital, Kensington, in 1940 for her nurse training, then to the Hammersmith Hospital where she nursed casualties of the Blitz with multiple injuries and burns.
Vera served at Leavesden, a mental hospital, and it was here that she met the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) nurses caring for soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk between May and June 1940. She decided that joining the QAIMNS was her calling but, being only 18, she had to wait another three years.
In 1943 that Vera became a QA nursing sister. At Watford she spent a great deal of time packing medical equipment for the front lines, then was sent to Peebles in Scotland to undertake her basic training.
Vera landed on the beaches of Normandy with the troops as part of the WW2 D-Day +4 landings. She helped set up the first military hospital under canvas in the grounds of a chateau, where she nursed up to 200 soldiers a day, and slept in a ditch when time allowed. She then followed the front line, nursing casualties, through ‘Market Garden’; Eindhoven in the dreadful winter of 1945; and on through The Battle of the Bulge.
On her return to UK, Vera served with home posting to Cowglen Hospital, Glasgow treating TB patients and then in charge of a skin ward in Lincoln before retirement to marry and have a family.
She was brave, fierce and beautiful and will be sadly missed by everyone that had the privilege of knowing this great lady.
Vera Hay, photographed aged 100, at the QARANC Association reunion lunch in Cardiff in 2022.
OBITUARY
Mo Humphreys will be remembered for her zest for life and summer lunches at Usk Castle
Maj (Rtd) Mo Humphreys TD, who died on 11 February 2023, aged 77, was a lovely lady who had been with the Welsh Branch for several years.
Though she had been sadly unwell for some time she still insisted on joining us for events, the last one being our Christmas Lunch in 2022.
Whilst her funeral was a private family affair, however, the branch was represented as per her husband’s request. The service was conducted with the coffin in the QARANC drape, Standard present.
Mo’s memorial service, on 19 April, was held on at St Mary’s Church, Usk, a beautiful old church full of family and friends. Members of the Welsh Branch attended the service, and as requested by Mo’s husband Laurie, wore our berets and medals as Mo was deeply proud of her service in the QARANC in 203 Welsh General Hospital and receiving her territorial decoration.
A recorder recital was performed by her favourite tutors and her cousin played welsh melodies on the harp. Laurie delivered a eulogy full of stories about Mo’s antics and love of life.
Following the service, we were invited to tea in the grounds of Usk Castle. We were joined by Association members from other branches, who also knew Mo from her nursing career. Also in attendance were friends from Mo’s days training and working at Great Ormond Street Hospital who had also been asked to wear their hospital brooch.
Mo, who was born on 30 November 1945, had a great zest for life, we will remember her especially for the wonderful summer lunches that she hosted at Usk Castle, where she insisted on doing the catering herself, aided amazingly by her little team of family and friends. These lunches have provided us with many memorable Sunday afternoons.